Updated 4:20 pm, Friday, December 6, 2013

A college student from Houston was shot and killed early Friday morning in San Antonio by a University of the Incarnate Word police officer, according to UIW officials. Robert Cameron Redus, 23, was a student at the school. The altercation occurred just two blocks from campus while the officer was on duty.Lt. Cindy Pruitt of the Alamo Heights Police Department said at a news conference that the traffic stop occurred when the officer noticed Redus speeding and driving his Ford Ranger pickup erratically.

The UIW officer was in a marked pickup truck.Pruitt said both vehicles drove north on Broadway until they pulled into the parking lot of the Treehouse Apartments at Broadway and Arcadia Place around 2 a.m., at which point they both got out of the vehicles and became involved in a struggle. The officer radioed for help during the struggle and Redus was shot multiple times.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were investigating whether Redus had a weapon or was threatening the police officer's life, Pruitt said.

“This is really in its preliminary stages,” Pruitt said. “This investigation will go on for days.”

Redus, who had four brothers, grew up in Baytown, where he graduated as co-valedictorian from Baytown Christian Academy, friends said.

Sara Davis, 20, and her sister Annie Jones, 22, both of Baytown, described Redus as kind, intelligent, compassionate and well-loved within the community.

“He was not an aggressive person at all, so the story doesn't make sense,” Davis said.

Family members reached at Redus' Baytown home declined comment Friday morning.

According to UIW, the incident is being investigated by the Alamo Heights Police Department and the Texas Rangers.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the student and officer involved in this incident," said UIW President Dr. Lou Agnese in an UIW statement.

The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues. Police did not release the identity of the five-year veteran officer, but said the officer is about 35.

Houston Chronicle reporter Craig Hlavaty contributed to this report.

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